For many years the college held a garden fete and open day for the people of Mill Hill where they could enjoy the magnificent grounds. This event was a highlight of the Mill Hill calendar and was mainly run by local people (of many different faiths and denominations). For those of you interested in the full history, there is an interesting article on the Mill Hill missionaries website.
Since the sale of the College to the Matterhorn Group, the site has been used as a location in several films and TV productions. The building is up for sale again and yet again the people of Mill Hill are worried that this beautiful building may be under threat. Lets hope that whoever takes the site over is aware of the affection in which the building is held by all sides of the community.
My mother used to help out at the St Joseph's fete every year too: as children we loved playing in the grounds, and we always attended midnight mass at the chapel there every Christmas.I would hate to see its unique character spoiled by inappropriate development. Our family has very fond memories of the Mill Hill missionaries: Father Traynor, Brother Herman etc. The Mill Hill priests were brilliant examples of practical Christianity, training in agriculture at the College in order to go out to Africa and give help to the people, preaching by example,and offering support, not forcibly converting. At a time when there is a lot to be ashamed of in relation to the past behviour of clergy, it should be remembered that many priests and nuns have spent decades of thier lives dedicated to supporting the poor and sick in developing countries, and we ought to wonder what will happen when their generation of clergy disappears, who will take on that supporting role?
ReplyDeleteOne of the highlights of the fete was to sneak away from our parents and go and see the pigs in the farm (hopefully with piglets!). I also remember going for walks in Mill Hill as a child, if you dropped into the convent the nuns would give you warm fresh milk straight from the cows (Bro Herman's prizewinning dairy herd).
ReplyDeleteAs you so rightly say, Mrs Angry, there were and still are an awful lot of good priests, nuns and other religious people and it's a pity that their work and dedication seems to be overlooked. (I am not suggesting that this excuses all the terrible incidents of abuse or the associated cover ups, just saying that there is a bigger picture.)
Aha: Caroline, perhaps like me you would like an apology from the Cardinal about the year of terror we suffered at the hands of Miss O'Donovan and her war of attrition on so many innocent six year old chidren. Remember being beaten with that wooden ruler? I certainly do ...
ReplyDeleteGenerations of Catholic families traumatised Mrs A!!! But there was no cover up, it was no secret, was it?
ReplyDeleteIncidentally I met her at the 100th year of the school celebrations, and she is tiny, smaller than me. I didn't hit her with a ruler though,knowing that I could was enough :)
That was an opportunity missed! Do you mean she is still alive? Perhaps she is immortal, like a vampire. Someone told me she had kicked the bucket and I wanted to know where she was buried so that I could go and dance on her grave. Excuse my bitterness, but the pleasure she got from the way she terrifed children was horrific: deeply traumatised me and gave me nightmares for years afterwards. As you say, it wasn't covered up, because teachers were beyond question on those days, as was the authority of the church.
ReplyDeleteMy eldest brother, in his 50s at the time of the reunion, was too scared to come because of her.
ReplyDeleteI doubt she's still alive, he would have been in her class in about 1951 or 52.